PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cristobal Morales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kartal Temiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kartal Temiz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Morales
vs
Temiz

150 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
24
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cristobal Morales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kartal Temiz!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Temiz rushes Morales and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Temiz using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Morales could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Morales is working for takedown but Temiz is calmly controlling the position for now.
Temiz misses with a hook to the ribs.

Temiz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Temiz - that will leave a mark!
Temiz closes the distance but Morales moves to the side
and Morales counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Temiz looks to clinch

and Morales counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Morales throwing shots but Temiz is blocking nicely.
Temiz is trying to stand up here but Morales is controlling him well.
Morales not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Temiz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Morales.
Temiz holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Morales thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Morales thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Temiz's head.
Temiz tries to kick Morales off but Morales keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Morales with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Temiz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Morales manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Temiz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Temiz stands and steps away. Morales gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Temiz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Morales manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Temiz fails in his attempt to clinch.

Temiz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Temiz slows the pace down in half guard.
Morales really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kartal Temiz.

Temiz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Morales napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Temiz decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Morales fails to land the takedown.
Temiz connects with a body shot.
Temiz tries to clinch there but Morales circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Temiz is looking to clinch but Morales is avoiding it.
Morales shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristobal Morales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Temiz wants to clinch but Morales slips to the side

and Morales counters with a single leg into guard. Temiz didn't expect that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Morales preventing the sweep.
Temiz pulls Morales in close to prevent any damage.
Temiz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Temiz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kartal Temiz dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Temiz wants to clinch.

Temiz forces Morales back against the cage and clinches.
Temiz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Morales is defending well for now.

Temiz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Temiz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Morales closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Temiz quickly recovers to half guard.
Temiz tries to kick Morales off but Morales keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Morales is stalling here. Temiz is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Morales seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Temiz has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Temiz stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Temiz thuds his shin into the meat of Morales's side.
Temiz tries to clinch

and Morales decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Temiz's guard.
Morales throws an elbow that misses. Temiz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Morales's guard. Nice move by Temiz!
Temiz wants to stand but Morales is controlling his posture from full guard.
Temiz stops Morales from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Temiz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kartal Temiz wasn't active enough on the ground.

Temiz forces Morales back against the cage and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Temiz.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Temiz successfully pulls guard.
Morales has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Morales throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales is looking to work some ground and pound but Temiz has wrist control.
Temiz managing to control the position.
Morales throws a big right hand that misses.
Morales in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Temiz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cristobal Morales overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Temiz keeping moving, preventing Morales from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Morales preventing the sweep.
Morales trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morales in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Morales working some strikes from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Morales with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morales throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cristobal Morales will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Temiz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Left hook, right uppercut from Temiz.
Temiz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Temiz moves in looking to clinch but Morales pushes him off.
Morales throws a low kick but Temiz avoids it.
Morales keeps the fight on the outside.
Morales dives in for a single leg takedown but Temiz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Temiz breaks from the clinch.
Temiz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Morales slips a jab and a cross from Temiz.
Temiz doesn't manage to clinch there - Morales circles away.
Morales is trying hard to land a takedown here. Temiz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales avoids the head kick by Temiz.

Temiz has closed the distance and engaged Morales in a clinch.

Temiz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Temiz connects with a high kick.
Morales shoots in looking for a takedown but Temiz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Morales's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristobal Morales. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morales drives through with a takedown into guard.
Morales might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Temiz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Temiz has his feet on Morales's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Temiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Temiz is looking to clinch but Morales is avoiding it.
Temiz tries to clinch but Morales moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Temiz tries to clinch

and Morales counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Temiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morales.
Temiz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Temiz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Morales loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Temiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morales.
Temiz keeping moving, preventing Morales from controlling successfully.
Temiz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Morales is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Temiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morales.
Temiz controls Morales momentarily but Morales frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kartal Temiz.
Temiz leaves Morales with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Temiz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Morales counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Temiz is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Temiz tries to clinch up but Morales circles away and keeps his distance.
Temiz throws a push kick but Morales slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales shoots for a double leg takedown but Temiz sprawls well. He's pushed Morales's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cristobal Morales is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Temiz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Morales paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Temiz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morales moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kartal Temiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Morales waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Temiz.
Temiz wants to clinch.
Temiz slaps away a takedown attempt from Morales, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Temiz wants to clinch up but Morales keeps it at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morales.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kartal Temiz.
I think Temiz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kartal Temiz!